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LA BELLE EPOQUE
| Luxury barge vacation cruises on the French hotel barge LA BELLE EPOQUE cruising the Canal de Bourgogne of Burgundy, France |  |
French Hotel Barge LA BELLE EPOQUE
Canal de Bourgogne - Burgundy, France
WAYFARER'S GUIDED WALKING TOUR CRUISE ITINERARY
Canal de Bourgogne - Burgundy, France
WAYFARER'S GUIDED WALKING TOUR CRUISE ITINERARY
No special
supplement and open for Individual Cabin Bookings for the Walking Tour
scheduled
10-16 October 2010 --- October 16-22 & 23-29, 2011
Sunday - Montbard to Venarey les Laumes
Guests are met at the Montbard TGV station at 18.04 or Hotel De L'Ecu at 18.30 and transferred to the barge, in a private air-conditioned minibus, moored in Venarey les Laumes. A full crew welcome you aboard with champagne and canapés during which we hear about the week’s itinerary, its walks and its activities. After time to settle into your cabin we gather for our welcome dinner aboard, a wonderful introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.
Monday - Venarey les Laumes to Montbard
Wake to the aroma of ground coffee and French patisseries and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. After a short cruise we take our first walk into the idyllic Burgundian countryside, an ancient, sleepy and charming landscape, before rejoining the barge for lunch. In the afternoon we drive to the exquisite World Heritage Unesco site of Abbey de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Not only is it a wonderful example of early Cistercian architecture but it is virtually intact. With its peaceful gardens and ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium Fontenay gives an exceptional glimpse of early Cistercian life and industry. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday - Montbard to Ravieres
After a morning walk around the hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain, where the film Chocolat was filmed, we walk to Alesia, the last battle site between the Gauls and Romans that took place in 52 BC, and then on to the canal. We see the site where the Julius Caesar’s army camped the night before the battle and visit the monumental statue of Vercingetorix, his opponent. Back on board for lunch we cruise through the market town of Montbard to the stone steps of the Forges de Buffon, founded in 1768 by 18th century naturalist Georges-Louis de Buffon, then onto Ravieres. We wander around the forge and see various examples of early Industrial Revolution engineering on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Dinner ashore in Semur-en-Auxois.
Wednesday - Ravieres to Ancy le Franc
Morning visit to Noyers to enjoy the vegetables, cheeses, colors and delights of the local market. Returning to the barge we either enjoy a lazy cruise gently down to Ancy le Franc or wander through pastoral scenery to Ancy le Franc and its 16th century Renaissance Chateau. En route we pass the ancient church in Chassignelles. Dinner aboard.
Thursday - Ancy le Franc to Tanlay
This morning’s walk takes us through a cacophony of woodland, rolling fields and the tiny canal side villages of Lezinnes and Argentenay. As we enter Tanlay we pass the 16th century Renaissance-style Chateau. During the afternoon we visit the vineyards and town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times. We enjoy a private wine tasting at Saint Bris le Vineaux in the Bersan cellars before returning for dinner aboard.
Friday - Tanlay to Tonnerre
Our last walk is through the famous Tonnerrois vineyards and two of its villages, in October ablaze with hues of gold, yellow and orange. Back on board for lunch, our afternoon cruise takes us to our final destination of Tonnerre. Captain’s farewell dinner aboard.
Saturday - Tonnerre to Montbard
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to Montbard railway station, in time for the 11.28am train to Paris Gare de Lyon, or a Montbard hotel.
Notes:
LA BELLE EPOQUE HOME > ITINERARY > Guided Walking Tour Itinerary
Guests are met at the Montbard TGV station at 18.04 or Hotel De L'Ecu at 18.30 and transferred to the barge, in a private air-conditioned minibus, moored in Venarey les Laumes. A full crew welcome you aboard with champagne and canapés during which we hear about the week’s itinerary, its walks and its activities. After time to settle into your cabin we gather for our welcome dinner aboard, a wonderful introduction to Burgundy’s excellent cuisine.
Monday - Venarey les Laumes to Montbard
Wake to the aroma of ground coffee and French patisseries and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. After a short cruise we take our first walk into the idyllic Burgundian countryside, an ancient, sleepy and charming landscape, before rejoining the barge for lunch. In the afternoon we drive to the exquisite World Heritage Unesco site of Abbey de Fontenay founded by St Bernard in 1118. Not only is it a wonderful example of early Cistercian architecture but it is virtually intact. With its peaceful gardens and ponds and fascinating cloisters, dormitories and scriptorium Fontenay gives an exceptional glimpse of early Cistercian life and industry. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday - Montbard to Ravieres
After a morning walk around the hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain, where the film Chocolat was filmed, we walk to Alesia, the last battle site between the Gauls and Romans that took place in 52 BC, and then on to the canal. We see the site where the Julius Caesar’s army camped the night before the battle and visit the monumental statue of Vercingetorix, his opponent. Back on board for lunch we cruise through the market town of Montbard to the stone steps of the Forges de Buffon, founded in 1768 by 18th century naturalist Georges-Louis de Buffon, then onto Ravieres. We wander around the forge and see various examples of early Industrial Revolution engineering on the banks of the tiny yet powerful Armancon River, whose power was harnessed to run the forge. Dinner ashore in Semur-en-Auxois.
Wednesday - Ravieres to Ancy le Franc
Morning visit to Noyers to enjoy the vegetables, cheeses, colors and delights of the local market. Returning to the barge we either enjoy a lazy cruise gently down to Ancy le Franc or wander through pastoral scenery to Ancy le Franc and its 16th century Renaissance Chateau. En route we pass the ancient church in Chassignelles. Dinner aboard.
Thursday - Ancy le Franc to Tanlay
This morning’s walk takes us through a cacophony of woodland, rolling fields and the tiny canal side villages of Lezinnes and Argentenay. As we enter Tanlay we pass the 16th century Renaissance-style Chateau. During the afternoon we visit the vineyards and town of Chablis, dating back to Roman times. We enjoy a private wine tasting at Saint Bris le Vineaux in the Bersan cellars before returning for dinner aboard.
Friday - Tanlay to Tonnerre
Our last walk is through the famous Tonnerrois vineyards and two of its villages, in October ablaze with hues of gold, yellow and orange. Back on board for lunch, our afternoon cruise takes us to our final destination of Tonnerre. Captain’s farewell dinner aboard.
Saturday - Tonnerre to Montbard
After breakfast, disembark the barge and transfer to Montbard railway station, in time for the 11.28am train to Paris Gare de Lyon, or a Montbard hotel.
Notes:
- On alternative weeks the cruise is in reverse direction. This itinerary is subject to change.
- We recommend you book the following trains in advance: Before cruise (Sunday) Paris Gare de Lyon to Montbard (TGV), train departs Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:58hrs and arrives in Montbard at 18:04hrs. End of cruise (Saturday) Montbard to Paris Gare de Lyon (TGV), train departs 11:28hrs arriving in Paris Gare de Lyon at 12:37hrs.
LA BELLE EPOQUE HOME > ITINERARY > Guided Walking Tour Itinerary